In a significant blow to a familial drug trafficking ring, Georgelys Natal Vazquez, 29, from Hudson, was convicted on charges of distributing cocaine and possessing a firearm during her criminal activities. The conviction followed a federal jury trial where Vazquez was found guilty of conspiracy to distribute 500 grams or more of cocaine, along with related firearm offenses. The U.S. Attorney’s Office announced the verdict and stated that Vazquez now faces up to 40 years in federal prison for the drug charge and an additional mandatory five years for the firearm charge.
Vazquez’s case is part of a larger operation that saw the indictment of twelve other individuals on March 28, 2024. Each of the other co-conspirators had pleaded guilty prior to Vazquez’s trial. The evidence presented at trial by the prosecution painted Vazquez as a high-ranking member of the drug syndicate, operating between Puerto Rico and the Middle District of Florida. Agents found her in possession of over 470 grams of cocaine in a freezer and a loaded firearm at her residence during a search.
The conviction was the culmination of a collaborative investigative effort led by the Federal Bureau of Investigation, the Pasco Sheriff’s Office, and the Pinellas County Sheriff’s Office. Assistant United States Attorneys Samantha Beckman and Jeff Chang led the prosecution, sealing Vazquez’s fate on the charges. The sentencing hearing is slated for October 28, where Vazquez’s future will be decided by the court…